Resources for Journalists

Naltrexone offers hope for Long COVID patients

Publicly released: Tue 7 May 2024 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

Frontiers in Immunology

The team had previously shown success in restoring ion channel function in ME/CFS patients using a drug called Naltrexone, and now they've achieved similar results with Long COVID patients. Read more about Naltrexone offers hope for Long COVID patients

Long lives and sudden deaths: The stark differences between the health of men and women globally

Publicly released: Thu 2 May 2024 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

The timing is right for this study and call to action—not only because of where the evidence is now, but because COVID-19 has starkly reminded us that sex differences ... 1] The 20 leading causes of Read more about Long lives and sudden deaths: The stark differences between the health of men and women globally

Negativity about vaccines surged on X (formerly Twitter) after COVID-19 jabs became available

Publicly released: Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

ESCMID Global Congress 2024

Moreover, vaccines can prevent complications from diseases for which we have limited treatment options, such as influenza and COVID-19, but there has been growing opposition to their use in recent Read more about Negativity about vaccines surged on X (formerly Twitter) after COVID-19 jabs became available

Cervical cancer vaccine roll out effective but huge variations in global coverage exist

Publicly released: Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

ESCMID Global Congress

also helped protect men from HPV disease (herd immunity), as reduces circulating virus in the community and this was further increased when boys were included. ... events such as wars and the COVID-19 Read more about Cervical cancer vaccine roll out effective but huge variations in global coverage exist

The pressures of COVID-19 science communication

Publicly released: Fri 26 Apr 2024 at 1122 AEST, 1322 NZST

ESCMID Global Congress

NZ microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles will talk at a global conference about her science communication during the Covid-19 pandemic, the subsequent harassment she faced, and what is now being done to Read more about The pressures of COVID-19 science communication

Could UV lights protect our hospitals against the next pandemic?

Publicly released: Thu 25 Apr 2024 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

Airborne transmission of diseases such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis in public spaces has highlighted a clear need for improved technologies to limit their spread. ... Studies have shown that far-UVC light Read more about Could UV lights protect our hospitals against the next pandemic?

Community notes can help counter COVID-19 vax misinformation on X (formerly Twitter)

Publicly released: Thu 25 Apr 2024 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA

Among the measures to help counter COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on X (formerly Twitter), crowdsourced 'community notes' were introduced in 2022. ... Community notes provide an opportunity for the Read more about Community notes can help counter COVID-19 vax misinformation on X (formerly Twitter)

Struggling to taste things after COVID? It could that your sense of smell is to blame

Publicly released: Wed 24 Apr 2024 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

You may feel like COVID-19 left you with a lingering loss of taste, but research from the US suggests that it may actually be a loss of your sense of ... The research used objective measures of taste and Read more about Struggling to taste things after COVID? It could that your sense of smell is to blame

COVID-19 treatment guidelines differ widely between countries, and most recommend treatments that don't work

Publicly released: Tue 23 Apr 2024 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

BMJ Global Health

And despite the fact that COVID-19 is no longer taking the toll on lives and health that it once did, the virus is still evolving and active around the globe, ... One in three guidelines (36; 33%) Read more about COVID-19 treatment guidelines differ widely between countries, and most recommend treatments that don't work

Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdowns meant high stress, demand and pressure for social workers and human services staff

Publicly released: Mon 22 Apr 2024 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Australian researchers interviewed 12 Melbourne-based social workers and human services staff about their experience of the city's extensive and stringent COVID-19 lockdowns, and analysed their Read more about Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdowns meant high stress, demand and pressure for social workers and human services staff

This poor soul had COVID-19 for almost 2 years, so long it mutated into a new variant

Publicly released: Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

ESCMID Global Congress 2024

immunocompromised patients Although rare, persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections in immunocompromised patients could lead to increased number of mutations in the virus genome. ... Whereas healthy SARS-CoV-2 Read more about This poor soul had COVID-19 for almost 2 years, so long it mutated into a new variant

Long COVID patients show immunological improvement two years after infection

Publicly released: Thu 18 Apr 2024 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

Nature Communications

The ADAPT study followed people who contracted COVID-19 during Australia’s first wave, as well as a matched control group, for up to two years. ... of COVID-19, and it is a group in which the initial Read more about Long COVID patients show immunological improvement two years after infection

EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19 vaccines likely prevented nearly 18,000 deaths in NSW's early Omicron era

Publicly released: Wed 17 Apr 2024 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

The team used a simulation of NSW's vaccination and COVID-19 death rates in people aged 50 or older to see how vaccination and how second and third doses impacted ... COVID-19 deaths, and predict what Read more about EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19 vaccines likely prevented nearly 18,000 deaths in NSW's early Omicron era

Important health information missing in online food delivery menus

Publicly released: Sun 14 Apr 2024 at 2301 AEST, Mon 15 Apr 24 at 0101 NZST

Public Health Nutrition

rapidly, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... One of the aims of the 2021-2030 National Preventive Health Strategy is to improve access to and the consumption of a healthy diet,” says Dr Gibson. Read more about Important health information missing in online food delivery menus

Post-Covid kids aren't walking to school like they used to

Publicly released: Fri 12 Apr 2024 at 0914 AEST, 1114 NZST

Journal of Transport & Health

The Covid lockdown period has disrupted Kiwi kids who walk to school, with students 42% less likely to return to their usual walking commute, new research finds. ... The authors say that restoring the Read more about Post-Covid kids aren't walking to school like they used to

Young drinkers are ending up in ED less

Publicly released: Fri 12 Apr 2024 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

The majority of all drinking-related patients had last imbibed at a private residence, purchased their drink from an off-license, and were most likely drinking beer (31%). ... Over the three waves of the Read more about Young drinkers are ending up in ED less

CORRECTION: EXPERT REACTION: Australia [has not] recorded zero COVID-19 deaths for at least a week 

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2024 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

Media reports based on data from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care had suggested Australia recorded no deaths associated with COVID-19 for a week, although experts have Read more about CORRECTION: EXPERT REACTION: Australia [has not] recorded zero COVID-19 deaths for at least a week 

An immune cell in the lung may be an unexpected trigger for developing severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2024 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Journal of Experimental Medicine

Stanford Medicine study flags unexpected cells in lung as suspected source of severe COVID The lung-cell type that’s most susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that ... SARS-CoV-2-infected Read more about An immune cell in the lung may be an unexpected trigger for developing severe COVID-19

With flu season approaching, does wearing a face mask make you seem more or less trustworthy?

Publicly released: Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

Perception

Researchers have found that the correlation between face masks and perceptions of trustworthiness may be linked to social norms rather than how they impact appearance. ... During the global COVID-19 Read more about With flu season approaching, does wearing a face mask make you seem more or less trustworthy?

Sleep apnoea mouthguard could be just as effective for lowering blood pressure as a CPAP machine

Publicly released: Mon 8 Apr 2024 at 1600 AEST, 1800 NZST

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Both groups saw a reduction in daytime sleepiness and the results showed no between-group differences in cardiovascular biomarkers. ... Chi-Hang also said that the timing of the study, which was conducted Read more about Sleep apnoea mouthguard could be just as effective for lowering blood pressure as a CPAP machine